Acta will not force ISPs to police users, says BT

The European Commission has told BT that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement will not force internet service providers to police their networks for copyright infringement.

BT group public and government affairs president Larry Stone said the Commission had "reassured" the company that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta) will not require ISPs to monitor their networks for copyright infringement, but said the agreement must be "crystal clear" on the issue.

"[Acta] must not in any way imply that liability via infringement is possible by telecoms or broadband or internet service providers in performing their roles insofar as their hosting or 'mere conduit' roles are concerned," Stone said in an email to ZDNet UK's sister site ZDNet Australia.

For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see ACTA won't make ISPs cops: EC on ZDNet Australia.